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KARACHI, Aug 6: The Kidney Foundation in collaboration with the University of Karachi has launched a research institute project aimed at identifying and managing kidney diseases in a cost-effective way.
As a part of the project, foundation was laid for construction of a building on a two-acre land in KU campus on Friday. The chairman of Higher Education Commission, Dr Attaur Rahman, after a brief ceremony, laid the foundation stone and unveiled a plaque in the presence of donors of the project and eminent citizens.
The Kidney Foundation's chief executive Prof S.A. Jaffar Naqvi told Dawn that the first phase of construction of the institute -National Institute of Kidney and Urological Diseases- would be completed within 18 months, for which two philanthropist families, Lari and Tasveer, had committed to contribute substantially. Following the construction of the institute, Masters and PhD programmes in nephrology and related fields would be started.
Prof Naqvi said that The Kidney Foundation would be looking after the administrative affairs while the University of Karachi would manage the faculty and academic affairs of the institute. As per the university rules, the vice-chancellor of Karachi University would be the chairman of the board of governors of the institute, he said.
He further said that as soon as the infrastructure was made available, the institute would embark on surveying kidney disease incidence and available treatment facilities while training and development of human resource would be the next priority. Patients care would be entirely free while organizations like banks and airlines would have subsidized rates, he mentioned.
Prof Jaffar Naqvi pointed out to the university authorities that The Kidney Foundation would be in need of more space for rehabilitation of patients of dialysis and transplantation, beside their vocational training. "We shall request the KU Syndicate at an appropriate time to provide additional three-acre land for this purpose," he added.
HEC chairman Dr Attaur Rahman, who is also the federal in charge minister of science and technology, appreciated The Kidney Foundation for establishing the institute and expressed hope that the dream would come true in two or three years.
"Keeping in view the discipline, management and achievement of the Foundation, I am sure that the new institute would prove to be genuine centre of excellence," he said. He also spoke of various measures taken by the government for the promotion of higher education and creation of a culture of research and quality education in the country.
"We have got talented and hardworking people who can deliver excellent results, provided they are given infrastructural facilities and properly guided," he noted. The vice-chancellor of Karachi University, Dr Pirzada Qasim, said it was heartening that The Kidney Foundation was embarking on a milestone project aimed at providing relief to the poor kidney patients.
"Here on the campus, the new kidney institute and other departments of the university in microbiology, genetics, biochemistry would have ample opportunities to interact with each other and share their findings and experiences," he mentioned.
Talking about standard of education in the country, HEC chairman Dr Attaur Rahman said that revolutionary changes were beginning to take place in the realms of science and technology, adds APP.
However, he made it clear that for attaining progress it must be realized where we actually stand. He pointed out that among the top 500 varsities in the world, there was none from Pakistan. There were only two universities from Turkey, but, their rankings came after 350, he added.
The minister was of the view that there was tremendous potential in the country. "Pakistanis are second to none. If we have the right sort of infrastructure, opportunities, examination system and quality teachers there is nothing which we cannot do," he added.
In this regard, he cited the example of the HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry where even students from Germany came to acquire higher education in the discipline of chemistry.
Stressing on the need of quality faculty and researchers, he said that the Tenure Track System was being launched for faculty members. Under this system, he said that the faculty members would be confirmed only after international assessment.
ILLEGAL VARISTIES: Later talking to newsmen, Dr Attaur Rahman said that all higher educational institutions in the country, which have failed to meet the minimum requirements set by the Higher Education Commission will be closed.
He said that the HEC, at a meeting in Islamabad, had asked the provincial secretaries concerned to ensure closure of all illegal educational institutions in the country.
Dr Atta pointed out that the closure of illegal varsities was the responsibility of respective provincial governments, as these were under their jurisdiction and the HEC had no powers to take direct action against such institutions. He further informed that now there was no illegal educational institutions in the federal area.
To a question, the minister said that there were up to 42 institutions in the country, operating in violation of the rules and regulations, adding that action had been initiated against these institutions, but few campuses were still operating.
To a question, Dr Atta made it clear that HEC's major funding was for the public sector universities and the degree-awarding institutes, and added that in addition to this, the commission had begun some scholarship programmes for the institutions like GIK, etc.
Regarding the action taken against the private sector varsities, not fulfilling certain requirements, the minister informed that the cabinet had given such institutions a five-year period in Feb 2002, to attain a certain standard or else they would be closed.
He said that inspections were also being undertaken and these institutions were being informed about their shortcomings, adding that the private varsities, which would not overcome these shortcomings within the stipulated period would be closed and reverted to the status of colleges.
